Midleton Very Rare has officially launched the sixth and final installment of its Silent Distillery Collection in the U.S. market. Bottled at 53% ABV and priced at $60,000, Chapter Six represents the last drops of whiskey distilled at the Old Midleton Distillery, which operated from 1825 to 1975.
The Silent Distillery Collection began in 2020, with one chapter released annually over six years. Each release honored the legacy of the Old Midleton Distillery, world-renowned for its Irish single pot still whiskey.
Chapter Six was originally unveiled to mark the distillery’s 200th anniversary. The whiskey spent 50 years maturing and was originally distilled by Master Distiller Emeritus Max Crockett in the facility’s massive pot still, which has often been dubbed the seventh wonder of the whiskey world.
Three subsequent Master Distillers —Barry Crockett, Brian Nation, and current Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman— oversaw the whiskey’s maturation across the decades.
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The liquid was initially aged in ex-bourbon American oak barrels before being transferred into a bespoke cask crafted by Master Cooper Ger Buckley. Buckley selected and reassembled staves from the casks used in all five previous Silent Distillery releases to create a one-of-a-kind vessel for the final marrying.
O’Gorman described the result: “There is a balance of aged oak influence with fresh fruit notes that can be challenging to achieve in ultra-aged whiskeys, which I hope those lucky enough to enjoy it will find a remarkable surprise. I truly believe that we have encapsulated the essence of Old Midleton in this ultimate expression.”
He added: “While there is a sense of sadness as the Old Midleton Distillery and the Silent Distillery Collection reach a close, I know they would all agree that it has been an extraordinary privilege to be part of the creation process.”
Buckley said: “As a fifth-generation cooper at Midleton Distillery, it has been a great honor to provide a special contribution to the creation of Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six. Working on the cask that would hold this once-in-a-lifetime whiskey, I found myself wondering if my coopering predecessors ever felt such pressure to preserve every last drop!”
Official tasting notes from the brand describe a whiskey with lively, fresh fruit flavors balanced by earthy aromas of dried tobacco leaves and antique oak.
The presentation includes a mouth-blown decanter crafted by Ireland’s House of Waterford Crystal and a wooden cabinet designed by Irish craftsman John Galvin. The cabinet incorporates six rare woods —each featured in previous chapters— alongside 18-carat gold-plated trim and oak reclaimed from old Irish whiskey vats.
Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is available at specialist retailers across the United States.
